— "The reason why I moved back was because I felt there was unfinished business
and it had nothing to do with getting back on the field
It had everything to do with about how being in Baltimore made me feel
I've always felt genuine love being here."
Although it's been over a decade years since Ray Rice last suited up in the NFL
Rice says his newest chapter includes guiding young 9th graders at Milford Mill Academy
RELATED: <a class="Link" href="https://www.wmar2news.com/local/former-ravens-rb-ray-rice-named-head-jv-coach-at-milford-mill-academy" data-cms-ai="0">Former Ravens' RB Ray Rice named head JV coach at Milford Mill Academy</a>
and I want to help shape that narrative into something different," said Rice
this means serving as a mentor and a leading figure
Something he wishes he had as a high schooler
"If somebody would've got to me before high school
that's where you really want to make the difference," Rice said
As a man who has had his fair share of controversy
he understands experiences the best teacher for these kids
'life is best understood in reverse,' so what I'm able to do now
is just pour back in things I went and fixed in my own world," Rice said
Milford Mill Athletics has named former Ravens running back Ray Rice head coach of their JV team
Rice, who won Super Bowl 47 with the Ravens, was released from the team following a suspension spurned from a domestic violence case. <a href="https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/ray-rice-domestic-violence-charges-dismissed" target="_blank" title="https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/ray-rice-domestic-violence-charges-dismissed" class="themeColorForLinks">Charges in that case were later dismissed.</a>
Rice has spent time as a motivational speaker
talking with high school and collegiate athletes about the dangers of domestic violence
a loaded gun and stolen car were found on a Baltimore County High School campus
raising concerns about safety on school grounds
While students were just starting the school day inside Milford Mill Academy
ALSO READ | <a href="https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/marylanders-tell-power-company-stay-off-our-land-or-face-the-consequences#" target="_blank" title="https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/marylanders-tell-power-company-stay-off-our-land-or-face-the-consequences#" class="themeColorForLinks">Marylanders tell power company: Stay off our land or face the consequences</a>
right behind the football field,” authorities said over the scanners
We’re in the back parking lot of the school.”
the Regional Auto Theft Task Force spotted two juveniles in a stolen car sitting on school property
they alerted school security and moved in for the arrest
The Baltimore City Police Department confirmed a 14- and 16-year-old were apprehended
The 16-year-old was found with a loaded handgun in his backpack
A Baltimore County Public Schools spokesperson said both are Milford Mill students
both were driven to a Baltimore County precinct for charging
only the 16-year-old was taken into custody
It really is disheartening,” Baltimore County resident Kawan Glover said
that&#x27;s very disturbing to me and very unsettling,” Brenda Gray
Area residents FOX45 spoke with are fearful and frustrated with what critics are calling catch and release policies for young offenders
“I don&#x27;t think the 14-year-old should have been released to his parents or any place,” Gray said
you hear about these young kids with the guns
If they&#x27;re not being held accountable
I&#x27;m panicked because it could have gotten worse
somebody could have gotten shot,” Glover said
BALTIMORE COUNTY — Milford Mill Academy has named former Ravens' running back Ray Rice as the head coach of their junior varsity football team
Welcome To The Staff, Ray Rice! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MillerPride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" data-cms-ai="0">#MillerPride</a> <a href="https://t.co/B52VEP0Vrv" data-cms-ai="0">pic.twitter.com/B52VEP0Vrv</a>
helped the team secure a Super Bowl win in 2012
His career was cut short when a video surfaced of him striking his then-fiancé
He was released from the team following a suspension but charges in the case were later dismissed
He finished his career with 6,180 yards and 37 touchdowns
BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Ray Rice moved back to the Baltimore area a few years ago feeling he had “unfinished business” with the community that had adopted him during his six seasons as a star running back with the Ravens
he will always be defined by how his career ended
The Ravens released him in 2014 after TMZ posted video of him striking his future wife in an Atlantic City casino elevator
He does not shy away from that part of his story
as Rice prepares for a new role as junior varsity football coach at Milford Mill Academy
he believes his mistakes make him the perfect person to help 15- and 16-year-old boys work on themselves
He has been doing this for years in one form or another
working with domestic violence awareness organizations and speaking to younger players
Read the <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/03/05/former-ravens-running-back-ray-rice-next-generation-milford-mill/" target="_blank" title="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/03/05/former-ravens-running-back-ray-rice-next-generation-milford-mill/" class="themeColorForLinks">full story</a> on the Baltimore Sun
The Milford Mill Academy Millers defeated the Franklin Indians 16-3 on Friday
The Millers are the top ranked varsity football team in Baltimore County
Milford Mill hasn&#x27;t allowed a touchdown in three consecutive games
Senior defensive end Drey&#x27;an Pitts was a big part of that - he finished the game with three sacks
Senior linebacker/nickel Messiah Turner also had a huge night with five tackles behind the line of scrimmage
&quot;It was just about will,&quot; Milford Mill head coach Reggie White Sr
&quot;We had a couple of outstanding plays and did some outstanding things.&quot;
won the state championship with Milford Mill as a player in 1987 and again as coach in the 2022 2A State Championship
&quot;We&#x27;re just trying to make sure Baltimore County&#x27;s on the map,&quot; he said
&quot;We&#x27;re just trying to go 1-0 next week against Dundalk.&quot;
BALTIMORE — Attending Milford Mill Academy
is one of the state's most highly touted high school football players
The class of 2026 running back/cornerback has offers from nearly 40 schools such as Maryland
North Carolina and plenty other power five schools
I thank God for putting me in these opportunities and just give me the chance to be able to do this," says Ferguson
The junior credits the foundation his parents laid and their sacrifice helping him get here
"Dad takes me everywhere so he travels in the summer like 17,000 miles just for me to go see colleges
Mom being there to nurture me whenever I got an injury or something
and she also takes time out of her day with our work schedule
she takes off sometimes to come and make sure I'm ok and watch me play game so they played a very big part," says Ferguson
Ferguson's introduction to football was in large part to his older brothers who played
The youngest of five says his upbringing plays a huge reason for the player he is today
I always got to use my full strength to be able to go 100% without getting in trouble because I was younger so they didn't really feel it
So when I'm on the field playing people my age
I played my brothers who were five years older than me," says Ferguson
Although he remains undecided on where his next chapter will be
he's certain his senior year at Milford Mill
I know we're going to get that state championship ring this year
We came short the last two years I been here
but this year we're going to get that ring," says Ferguson
Former NFL running back Ray Rice has been hired as the junior varsity football coach at Milford Mill Academy in Maryland
Rice played with the Baltimore Ravens from 2008 to 2014
His career was cut short when a video emerged of him punching Janay Palmer
who was then his fiancé and is now his wife
The Ravens released Rice and the NFL suspended him and he never played in the league again
he has been involved with various domestic violence awareness groups
Rice has been married to Palmer for 10 years and has two children
He was a volunteer coach at his alma mater
New Rochelle (New York) High School from 2014 to 2017
During the past few years he has been a volunteer coach for his son’s youth football program
Rice was a three-time Pro Bowler and won Super Bowl 47 with the Ravens
— It's considered by many to be a 'food desert' - not readily served by grocery stores
on Liberty Road in Northwest Baltimore County
it could get easier to bring home groceries
local leaders broke ground on a new Grocery Outlet Bargain Market at the site of a former Giant grocery store
READ MORE: <a class="Link" href="https://www.wmar2news.com/local/aldi-replaces-jo-ann-fabric-on-york-road-grocery-outlet-moving-into-old-giant-on-liberty-road" data-cms-ai="0">Aldi replaces Jo-Ann fabric on York Road, Grocery Outlet moving into old Giant on Liberty Road</a>
and that's an important thing because we needed it," said Shirley Supik
president of the Liberty Road Community Council
Supik lives five minutes from the site and knows folks around the area who cannot drive and used to walk to the former Giant
just off Liberty Road on Milford Mill Road
A grocery store there served the community for decades but closed down a few years ago
"The nearest store is too far away for them to walk
and they had to depend upon other people to bring them what they needed
or to buy at dollar stores or whatever was closest to them
It's important that this store is here for them."
Leaders put shovels in the dirt at the lot on Thursday
ceremoniously breaking ground on the soon-to-be grocery outlet
"This development marks a significant milestone for our community
affordable groceries and creating local jobs," Julian Jones
The development marks an addition to a stretch which has seen much subtraction
including another vacant grocery lot one intersection up the road
Local leaders called it a 'huge step toward food security' in the area
About $2 million in county and federal funding is going to the development
Leaders said the redevelopment would also include new utilities
"I think people should be watching Liberty Road," Supik added
and good things are going to be happening here
County Executive Johnny Olszewski told reporters the store is expected to be open by 2025
Rice played six seasons in the NFL - all with the <a class="tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_wio8fl" href="https://www.baltimoreravens.com/" target="_blank">Baltimore Ravens</a> - from 2008 to 2014
He won Super Bowl 47 and earned three Pro Bowl selections
Rice was suspended by the NFL and later released by the Ravens after a video surfaced of him punching his then-fiancee Janay Palmer in an Atlantic City casino elevator in February 2014
has been involved with domestic violence awareness groups and spoken to several NFL and college teams since his career ended
He was a volunteer coach at his high school alma-mater
Rice has been a coach with the Pikesville (Md.) Wildcats youth football program where son Jaylen has played on his teams
Rice has been married to Palmer for 10 years and is parents to Jaylen and daughter Rayven
The Wildcats program has sent several players to Milford Mill Academy
which has been a Maryland Class 2A power the past five seasons
were runner-up in 2021 and reached the semifinals in 2023 and 2004
Longtime Milford Mill coach Reggie White told the Baltimore Sun that Rice
wanted to go back to his “public school” roots
“He’s a public school-raised kid who went to a public school and that’s what he wants to do — give back to a public school,” said White
a former NFL player who’s been at his alma-mater for three decades
effort and energy and he wants to put it into public school
It just happened that Milford was the right choice for him
JV coach [Daymon] Royster retired this year and sometimes time is on your side.”
<a data-mm-click-analytics="true" data-vars-action="click" data-vars-label="https://www.si.com/high-school/author/gary-adorato" data-vars-category="default category" data-vars-type="click" href="https://www.si.com/high-school/author/gary-adorato">GARY ADORNATO</a>Gary Adornato began covering high school sports with the Baltimore Sun in 1982
while still a mass communications major at Towson University
and in 2003 became one of the first journalists to cover high school sports online while operating MIAASports.com
the official website of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association
Adornato pioneered market-wide coverage of high school sports with DigitalSports.com
introducing video highlights and player interviews while assembling an award-winning editorial staff
he launched VarsitySportsNetwork.com which became the premier source of high school media coverage in the state of Maryland
he sold VSN to The Baltimore Banner and joined SBLive Sports as the company&#x27;s East Coast Managing Editor
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— Being on the track at Milford Mill High School is one of Sharon Johnson's happy places
I love everything about track and field," she said
Johnson is the men's varsity track and field coach and also teaches math at Milford Mill
She pours her love of the sport into her athletes and they know Coach J is in their corner
she will get on you but at the end of the day it is out of love," said Malik Samms
a rising junior on the track and field team
"She does care for all her athletes and pushes them to be the best they can be."
"She’s going to keep it real with you at all times
she gives you motivation when you need it," said Damon Ferguson
Coach Johnson takes on a motherly role with her athletes too
taking them to post-workout rehab and keeping them fed
sometimes I make lunch for them because I know these things are important," she said
When she's not leading these track and field stars to championships
Coach Johnson stays on them about their studies
help with the SAT's and assistance in applying for colleges
I had the opportunity to go to the University of Houston," she said
it’s urban and they need to see something beyond Baltimore County."
Her love and dedication to her young athletes pushes them to do better for her
she’s a good coach and very good on training and helping me become a better person overall in life too," said Derrell Pierson
Review our list of nominees and vote for you choice for this week&#39;s honor
<a class="tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_wio8fl" href="https://si.voltax.io/cms/distribution/high_school/01j6hvx0h5fg/si.com/high-school">High School on SI </a>voting polls are intended to be a fun way to create fan engagement and express support for your favorite high school athletes and teams
there are no awards for winning the voting
Our primary focus is to highlight the abilities and accomplishments of all the athletes and teams included in our poll
You can vote as often as you wish and are encouraged to share our polls with others
The use of voting bots and other forms of automated voting are not allowed
Individuals will be removed from the poll if any form of automated voting can be verified
The winner will be announced in the following week&#39;s poll
including a career-best 49-yarder as DeMatha won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Capital Division championship with a 16-7 win over Our Lady of Good Counsel
a senior quarterback who’s committed to the Naval Academy
went 10-of-13 for 172 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 127 yards and three touchdowns in Patuxent’s 55-8 win over Elkton in the Maryland Class 2A/1A state quarterfinals
The senior running back had 10 carries for 181 yards and three touchdowns in Westlake’s 34-0 victory over Damascus in the Maryland Class 2A state quarterfinals
had 165 yards and three touchdowns in Fort Hill’s 30-12 come-from-behind victory over previously undefeated Cambridge-South Dorchester in the Maryland Class 1A state quarterfinals
The junior finished with 13 carries for 164 yards and two touchdowns in Milford Mill’s 42-7 victory over Easton in the Maryland Class 2A state quarterfinals
in Westlake’s victory over Damascus in the Maryland Class 2A state quarterfinals
had 27 carries for 223 yards and two touchdowns in Linganore’s 38-14 victory over Bel Air in the Maryland Class 3A state quarterfinals
rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns in Milford Mill’s win over Easton in the Maryland Class 2A state quarterfinals
had 16 carries for 124 yards in Westlake’s Maryland Class 2A state quarterfinal victory over Damascus
had nine tackles including three quarterback sacks in Milford Mill’s 42-7 win over Easton in the Maryland Class 2A state quarterfinals
The senior linebacker had 14 tackles (eight solo) in Northern’s 49-0 victory over Boonsboro in the Maryland Class 1A state quarterfinals
had 12 carries for 242 yards and five touchdowns in Northern’s win over Boonsboro in the Maryland Class 1A state quarterfinals
Travers had 10 tackles as Stephen Decatur advanced to the Maryland Class 2A state semifinals with a 37-0 win over Walkersville
<a data-mm-click-analytics="true" data-vars-action="click" data-vars-label="https://www.si.com/high-school/author/derek-toney" data-vars-category="default category" data-vars-type="click" href="https://www.si.com/high-school/author/derek-toney">DEREK TONEY</a>Derek Toney is an award winning sports journalist with nearly four decades of content creation
editing and management experience in the DMV area
He has served as a reporter with the Baltimore Sun
He also spent 12 years as a Senior Content Editor with Varsity Sports Network
He has been writing for High School on SI since 2023
When it comes to Maryland high school football
Here are eight of the biggest games on the schedule, involving 16 of Maryland's top 21 teams, according to the <a href=https://www.maxpreps.com/md/football/rankings/1/>MaxPreps preseason rankings</a>
Listed at the bottom of each game writeup are each team's other key games against top-25 squads this season
<a href="https://247sports.com/season/2025-football/RecruitRankings/?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool/&State=MD">All recruiting rankings are by 247 Sports.</a>
Good Counsel finished the 2023 season 10-1
including two victories over DeMatha (35-28 in the regular season and 7-0 in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game)
Those were DeMatha's only two losses as the Stags finished 9-2 and No
is led by senior S Faheem Delane (2025 state No
Ohio State) and senior WR DaMarion Fowlkes (2025 state No
is led by senior RB Bud Coombs (2025 state No
Maryland) and junior WR Lavar Keys (2026 state No
Maryland vs. USA: <a href=https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2024/08/19/maryland-high-school-football-top-games-2024-season/74810631007/ target=_blank>What are the biggest high school football games involving Maryland teams?</a>
Spalding went 10-2 last year and repeated as the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association's A Conference champion
crushed Spalding 40-7 in its season finale and was No
is led by senior QB Malik Washington (2025 national No
is led by senior CB Brandon Finney (2025 national No
Other big games for Archbishop Spalding: vs
<a href=https://nfhs-network.pxf.io/9gRn24 target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">Watch Maryland high school football on NFHS Network</a>
These two WCAC rivals in the nation's capital will meet in the regular-season finale
John's is led by senior S Tariq Hayer (2025 DC No
junior edge rusher Tariq Boney (2026 DC No
4) and junior RB Breyon Williams (2026 DC No
Gonzaga is led by senior S Kainoa Winston (2025 DC No
junior edge rusher Carter Meadows (2026 DC No
3) and senior CB Devenchi Arnold (2025 DC No
with Concordia Prep rolling to a 41-9 victory.Concordia Prep went 11-1 last year
winning the MIAA B Conference championship and finishing No
Concordia Prep is led by senior edge rusher Sidney Stewart (2025 state No
Maryland) and junior TE Destin Mitchell (2026 state No
Loyola Blakefield is led by junior CB Khary Adams (2026 state No
Other big games for Loyola Blakefield: at No
28These Calvert County rivals are used to playing close games against each other
Patuxent won 41-31 last year and 20-19 in 2022
The Hurricanes are led by senior DL Evan Powell (2025 state No
Patuxent went 11-2 last year and finished 22nd in the state media poll
<a href=https://nfhs-network.pxf.io/75AdmO target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">Watch Patuxent vs. No. 14 Huntingtown on NFHS Network</a>
These two teams are Baltimore city and MIAA A Conference rivals
and finished 23rd in the final state media poll
The Cardinals finished 4-7 in a rare down year
MSJ is led by senior CB Angelo Ross (2025 state No
Calvert Hall features senior DL Asaiah Hamond (2025 state No
Maryland) and senior LB Alijah Hammond (2025 state No
These two teams will open the season against each other for the second straight year
Oakdale won last year's opener on the road
en route to a 14-0 season and MPSSAA Class 3A state championship
Milford Mill's leaders are senior OL Amory Hills (2025 state No
6) and junior Damon Ferguson (2026 state No
has won eight of the last 10 MPSSAA Class 1A state championships
has won three straight Class 2A state championships and has won 12 state titles in all
Dunbar is led by senior OL Joshua Blackston (2025 state No
<a href=https://nfhs-network.pxf.io/Gm6EjB target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">No. 18 Fort Hill vs. No. 21 Dunbar on NFHS Network</a>
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BALTIMORE — A pair of grocery chains are opening new stores in Baltimore County
giving resident food shoppers different options
Aldi held its grand opening at the old Jo-Ann fabric store at 9978 York Road in Cockeysville
MORE: <a class="Link" href="https://www.wmar2news.com/local/aldi-to-open-at-old-jo-ann-fabric-site-in-cockeysville-next-week" data-cms-ai="0">Aldi to open at old Jo-Ann fabric site in Cockeysville next week</a>
Our cameras were there witnessing dozens of customers camped outside for their chance at winning a free gift card and other goodies
local leaders celebrated the groundbreaking for a new Grocery Outlet Bargain Market that's set to replace the former Giant Food on Liberty Road at Milford Mill
Plans for that location have been in the works since November of 2022
Some residents have long described this section of the Liberty Road corridor as a food desert
RELATED: <a class="Link" href="https://www.wmar2news.com/local/liberty-road-redevelopment-making-progress-but-not-fast-enough-for-residents" data-cms-ai="0">Liberty Road redevelopment making progress, but not fast enough for residents</a>
five grocery stores have left the area---the last one closing in August 2018
On Friday, Milford Mill Academy in Baltimore named Rice the <a class="tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_7lvawc" href="https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/news/colts-hire-former-baltimore-ravens-chris-hewitt">head coach</a> of its junior varsity (JV) football team
Welcome To The Staff, Ray Rice! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MillerPride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MillerPride</a> <a href="https://t.co/B52VEP0Vrv">pic.twitter.com/B52VEP0Vrv</a>
and was one of the league&#39;s top running backs in that time
the Rutgers product and former second-round pick rushed for 6,180 yards and 37 touchdowns
which ranks second in team history in both categories
He also helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII in 2012 over the San Francisco 49ers
rushing for 306 yards and two touchdowns in four playoff games that year
Rice&#39;s playing career is almost an afterthought compared to how it ended
a video surfaced of Rice physically attacking his then-fiancee
He was previously indicted for aggravated assault and suspended as a result
but the new footage forced the Ravens to release him after severe public backlash
and effectively ended his playing career as a result
Charges against Rice were later dropped after he agreed to court-supervised counseling
He has also spent several years as a motivational speaker
addressing high school and college students on domestic violence while using his own experience as a warning
Rice has previously coached multiple youth football teams
and he was recently a running backs coach at New Rochelle High School in New Rochelle
The Ravens have slowly begun to welcome Rice back, even having him as their Legend of the Game against the <a class="tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_7lvawc" href="https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/news/baltimore-ravens-could-play-international-game-2025-dolphins">Miami Dolphins</a> back in December of 2023
<a class="tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_7lvawc" href="https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/">Make sure you bookmark Baltimore Ravens On SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!</a>
<a data-mm-click-analytics="true" data-vars-action="click" data-vars-label="https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/author/jon-alfano" data-vars-category="default category" data-vars-type="click" href="https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/author/jon-alfano">JON ALFANO</a>
(WBFF) — Baltimore County officials announced Tuesday that a new grocery store would be moving into a long-shuttered supermarket storefront in Milford Mill
A Grocery Outlet store will replace the Giant Foods store that closed in the 3600 block of Milford Mill Road in 2018
creating what some residents called a &quot;food desert.&quot;
&quot;This critical investment is fulfilling a longstanding commitment to bringing fresh grocery options to this community and we look forward to the continued revitalization of the Liberty Road corridor,&quot; County Executive Johnny Olszewski said
ALSO READ | <a href="https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/arundel-woman-accused-of-screaming-obscenities-flashing-trick-or-treaters-halloween-indecent-exposure-wendee-kaczorek#" target="_blank" title="https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/arundel-woman-accused-of-screaming-obscenities-flashing-trick-or-treaters-halloween-indecent-exposure-wendee-kaczorek#" class="themeColorForLinks">Arundel woman accused of screaming obscenities, flashing trick-or-treaters</a>
The store is expected to open next year with about 40 employees
The opening is part of the planned redevelopment at the Milford Mill Shopping Center
The county is putting forward $2 million in funding to help with the redevelopment
ALSO READ | <a href="https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/man-shot-in-catonsville-early-this-morning-say-police#" target="_blank" title="https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/man-shot-in-catonsville-early-this-morning-say-police#" class="themeColorForLinks">Man shot in Catonsville early this morning, say police</a>